“Over the last five years gangs have recruited more than 3000 members, a 51 per cent increase. At the same time, we’ve seen a significant escalation in gang-related violence, public intimidation and shootings, with violent crime up 33 percent.” says Mr Goldsmith.
Staff, “Government Backs Police To Crackdown On Gangs,” SCOOP Independent News, February 25, 2024.
Admittedly it is very difficult to make much of purely time series data for one place, but did any of the gun control advocates predict such a big increase in violent crime after the gun control were passed after the March 15, 2019 mass murder? Hardly.
There are also accusations that the government is misrepresenting the number of these guns in private hands.
The Firearms Minister is being accused of misleading the public over the number of people allowed to have prohibited semi-automatics.
Centrefire semi-automatic guns were banned after the 15 March terror attacks, bar a few carve-outs for pest control and gun collectors.
Associate Justice Minister (Firearms) Nicole McKee has repeatedy said more than 6600 New Zealanders are licensed to possess semi-automatics. . . .
Gun Control NZ co-founder Philippa Yasbek said she could not reconcile the minister’s figure of 6600, pointing to another, much smaller number McKee gave in an answer to a written parliamentary question in February. . . .
Anneke Smith, “Firearms Minister accused of misleading public on gun stats,” RNZ, April 8, 2024.
